Arrangements for guiding the chocks of rolling-mills



Dec. 19, 1967 L; 0101.0 3,358,491

ARRANGEMENTS FOR GUIDING THE CHOCKS OF ROLLING-MILLS Filed Sept. 8, 1964PRIOR ART 6b 5 I ,Bb I

D- l 1 5a F K12 FIG.4

PRIOR ART United States Patent .0

3,358,491 ARRANGEIVIENTS FOR GUIDING THE CHOCKS F ROLLING-MILLS LucienDiolot, Neuilly, France, assignor to Societe Nouvelle Spidem, Paris,France, a corporation of France Filed Sept. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 396,798 7Claims. (Cl. 72237) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Guiding means for thevertical movement of checks with respect to the standards of a rollingmill, said means including roller tracks on the inside of said standardsadjacent either side of said chocks, rollers of fixed axis adjustablymounted on one side of each chock and adapted to engage said rollertracks, and rollers of movable axis mounted on the other side of eachsaid chock and resiliently urged into engagement with said rollertracks.

Background of the invention The invention relates to improved guidingmeans provided between roll-carrying chocks and the internal faces ofstandards associated with rolling mills or the like.

In guiding means known heretofore for ensuring a vertical motion-of thechock with respect to the standard, it has been a requirement to machinethe adjacent and relatively displaceable, mostly planar parts (whichusually, are of substantial dimension) with very high accuracy. 4 Inorder to, maintain strict parallelism between the rolls, the relativelydisplaceable parts forming the known guiding means on the chock and onthe standard must have a minimum clearance. This requirement, however,may give rise to jamming of the chock due to the heat expansions duringoperation. The heat eifect is particularly significant in high-speedrolling mills.

Summary of the invention In view of the foregoing it is an object of theinvention to provide an improved, simplified and inexpensive guidingmeans for the vertical movement of chocks in standards associated withrolling mills for ensuring strict parallelism between the rolls andsmooth vertical displacement of the chocks irrespective of the extent ofheat expansion.

I Bn'eflystated, the novel guiding means comprises roller means of fixedbut adjustable axis affixed to a chock adjacent one face thereof andengaging a roller track on an inside face of a standard-roller means ofcontinuously displaceable axis aifixed adjacent the opposite face of thechock and engaging another roller track on the opposite face of thestandard, and spring means resiliently urging the last named rollermeans against the roller track associated therewith.

The invention will be better understood and further objects andadvantages will become more apparent from the ensuing detailedspecification of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with thedrawing.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational viewof a two-high rolling mill according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view taken along the axis of a roller of themill shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view of a chock according to theinvention; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

Description of prior art Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2 representing theprior art, there are shown two standards 1 and 1a of a twohigh rollingmill including two rolls 5 and 5a extending between said standards. Bothends of each roll journal in a chock disposed in an opening of thestandards. As seen in FIG. 2, roll 5 is associated with chocks 4 and 4a.Chock 4 is disposed between the opposed inner faces 2 and 3 of standard1, while chock 4a is disposed between the opposed inner faces 2:: and 3aof standard 1a. The chocks have to fit between the opposed inner facesof the standard with a clearance that is sufiiciently large to per- -mita vertical displacement of the chocks 4, 4a with respect to therespective standards 1, 1a and yet small enough to prevent the axes ofrolls 5, So from deviating from strict parallelism. These requirementsnecessitate a very accurate machining of the internal faces of thestandards and also of the sides of the chocks.

Because of the heat transmitted by the rolls and the journals to thechocks, the latter are always at a higher temperature than the standardseven in cold rolling mills, and consequently, during operation, theclearance decreases in a manner which depends upon the runningconditions and which is difficult to predict. If the expansion issignificant, jamming may even occur.

Moreover, the surfaces 2, 2a on one side and 3, 3a on the other sidemust be coplanar so as to prevent the journals from inducing additionalstresses in the checks.

Further, when it is required to finely adjust the clearance between therolls, particularly in rolling mills provided with a very accuratethickness control system, it may happen that a slight additional pressurfrom the tightening screw results not in a displacement of the chocksbut only in small elastic deformations thereof if the drag on thesurfaces 2, 2a, 3, 3a is excessive.

Description of the preferred embodiment Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4 itis immediately apparent that the novel guiding means prevents a directcontact at any time between the chock and the inner faces of thestandards. In FIGS. 3 and 4 there is shown in section the standard 1having two opposed internal faces 2b and 3b. Face 2b is provided withtwo spaced elevated portions 20 and 2d while face 317 is provided withtwo spaced elevated portions 30 and 3d. All ofsaid elevated portionsextend vertically and substantially parallel to one another and serve asroller tracks, as it will become more apparent as the specificationprogresses.

Between faces 2b and 31) there is disposed a chock 4b associated withone end of a roll 5. From one side face of chock 4b adjacent face 2b ofstandard 1 protrude four spaced rollers 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d and engage therespective roller tracks 2c and 2d. With each of rollers fizz-6d thereis associated a respective spindle Sa-Sd to which, in turn, there iseccentrically secured a respective axle 14a-14d. Each axle 14a14d isfixedly but adjustably held in chock 41). By slightly rotating any ofthe axles 14a-14d, the respective eccentric spindle 8a-8d will cause therespective roller 6a-6d to protrude to a lesser or greater extent beyondthe outline of chock 4b. Such an adjustment may be made at the time ofinstallation to compensate for any errors in the machining of rollertracks 20, 2d, 3c, 3d and to ensure a parallelism of the rolls.

From the side face of chock 4b adjacent face 3b of standard 1 protrudefour spaced rollers 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d and engage the respective rollertracks 30 and 3d. Each roller 7a7d has a respective central axle 9a-9dcarried by a bracket 15a-15d straddling the respective roller 7a-7d. Thebase of each bracket 15a-15d is connected by a respective rod Ila-11d toa respective seat member 16a-16d each receiving a spindle 12a-12d. Toeach spindle 12a-12d there is eccentrically secured an axle 17a-17d eachailixed t chock 4b. Surrounding each rod 11a-11d is a spring means suchas a stack of cup-shaped Washers a-10a' tensioned between the respectivebracket a-15d and the respective seat Ida-16d. Spring means lira-10d areadapted to resiliently urge respective rollers '7 a7d into contact withroller tracks 30 and 3d. The force of any of spring means 10a-10d may beadjusted or the position of any of rollers 7a-7d may be changed byrotating the respective axle 17a-17d causing respective eccentricspindle 12a-12d to shift the respective seat lea-16d toward or away fromtracks 3c and 3d,

Due to the novel guiding means described hereinabove, the machining ofthe standards is noticeably simpler. In fact, only the roller tracks 2::and 2d have to be machined with accuracy; any roughness of roller tracks3c and 3d will be taken up by spring means 10a10d. Furthermore, aperfect coplanarity of machined tracks and 2d is not critical in view ofthe adjusting feature of rollers 6a6a'.

In addition, it is apparent that due to the novel guiding means themachining of the lateral surfaces of the chocks is no longer necessary.

The clearance between the chock and the internal faces of the standardis sufiiciently large so that no jamming may occur even in case of verysubstantial heat expansion of the chock. Any variation of the clearanceis taken up by springs 10a-10d. This feature also ensures that the rollsof the rolling mill are maintained in their strict parallelism.

Moreover, even if substantial secondary forces are exerted on the shocks(due, for instance, to the hold-back pull to which the rolled product issubjected), no jamming liable to interfere with small displacements ofthe chock may occur, since the rolling friction which was substitutedfor the sliding friction results in a much lower resistance to-themotion.

The removal of the checks may be eifectnated simply by turning axles17a17d to withdraw the rollers 7a-7d into the checks and thus leaving asubstantial clearance between the chucks and the inner face of thestandards.

Examples of possible modifications The novel guiding structure describedhereinabove may be modified in a number of ways without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

For instance, on the side of the fixed rollers, instead of four rollersfizz-6d, as few as two vertically spaced rollers are deemed to besufiicient.

On the side of the spring-urged rollers, instead of four rollers 7a-7d,a single roller is sufficient to generate the reaction force that urgesthe fixed rollers against their roller track. a

It is further feasible to interchange the rollers and the roller tracks;that is, to mount the rollers on the inside of the, standardsandtprovide the chOcks with the roller tracks.

I claim:

1. In a rollingmill of the typeincluding a pair of spaced standardsdisposed faceto-face, at least two vertically spaced parallel rollsextending between said standards,

both ends of each roll journaling in a chock, at least two checks beingvertically displaceably disposed in an openiug of said standards, saidopening defining vertically eX- tending opposed inner faces each beingadjacent to opposed side faces of said checks, the improvementcomprising,

(A) at least two vertically extending roller track means laterallyflanking said checks and carried by one of said faces at either side ofsaid chocks,

(B) first roller means afiixed adjacent to one of said, side faces ofeach said displaceable chocksand rollingly engaging at least one of saidroller track means,

(Q) adjusting means associated with said first roller means to laterallymove said first roller means toward or away from said roller track meansat will and secure said first roller means in a selected lateralposition with respect to said roller track means;

(D) second roller means afiixed adjacent to the other of said side facesof each said displaceable checks and rollingly engaging at least one ofsaid roller track means, said second roller means being freely movablein a direction substantially normal to said roller track means duringoperation, and

(E) spring means resiliently urging said second roller means intocontact with said roller track means.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said roller trackmeans are carried by said internal faces of said standards and saidfirst and second roller means are secured to said displaceable chocks.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said adjusting meansincludes an eccentrically mounted spindle surrounded by said firstrollerimeans.

4. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring means isformed by a stack of washers of cupshaped cross section.

5. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring meansengages said second roller means atone end and a seat at the other end,said seat adapted to be adjusted by displacement toward or away fromsaid roller track means. i

6. The improvement as defined in claim 3, wherein each internal face ofsaid standards includes at least one vertically extending elevatedportion constituting said roller track means. i

7. The improvement as defined in claim 5, including an eccentricaliymounted spindle received by said seat.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,870,509 8/1932 Heiden 722371,905,129 4/1933 Biggert et a1. 72-237 2,277,740 3/ 1942 Yoder 72'--2373,145,065 8/1964 Cater 3086 3,197,988 8/1965 Roberts 72-237 3,198,5888/1965 Cashman et al 308-6 CHARLES W. LANE-1AM, Primary Examiner.

A. RUDERMAN, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,358,491 December 19, 1967 Lucien Diolot It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and thatthe said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 4, line40, for the claim reference numeral "3" read 2 Signed and sealed this21st day of January 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of PatentsAttesting Officer

1. IN A ROLLING MILL OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED STRANDARDSDISPOSED FACE-TO-FACE, AT LEAST TWO VERTICALLY SPACED PARALLEL ROLLSEXTENDING BETWEEN SAID STANDARDS, BOTH ENDS OF EACH ROLL JOURNALING IN ACHOCK, AT LEAST TWO CHOCKS BEING VERTICALLY DISPLACEABLY DISPOSED IN ANOPENING OF SAID STANDARDS, SAID OPENING DEFINING VERTICALLY EXTENDINGOPPOSED INNER FACES EACH BEING ADJACENT TO OPPOSED SIDE FACES OF SAIDCHOCKS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING, (A) AT LEAST TWO VERTICALLYEXTENDING ROLLER TRACK MEANS LATERALLY FLANKING SAID CHOCKS AND CARRIEDBY ONE OF SAID FACES AT EITHER SIDE OF SAID CHOCKS, (B) FIRST ROLLERMEANS AFFIXED ADJACENT TO ONE OF SAID SIDE FACES OF EACH SAIDDISPLACEABLE CHOCKS AND ROLLINGLY ENGAGING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ROLLERTRACK MEANS, (C) ADJUSTING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FIRST ROLLER MEANSTO LATERALLY MOVE SAID FIRST ROLLER MEANS TOWARD OR AWAY FROM SAIDROLLER TRACK MEANS AT WILL AND SECURE SAID FIRST ROLLER MEANS IN ASELECTED LATERAL POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID ROLLER TRACK MEANS, (D)SECOND ROLLER MEANS AFFIXED ADJACENT TO THE OTHER OF SAID SIDE FACES OFEACH SAID DISPLACEABLE CHOCKS AND ROLLINGLY ENGAGING AT LEAST ONE OFSAID ROLLER TRACK MEANS, SAID SECOND ROLLER MEANS BEING FREELY MOVABLEIN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID ROLLER TRACK MEANS DURINGOPERATION, AND (E) SPRING MEANS RESILIENTLY URGING SAID SECOND ROLLERMEANS INTO CONTACT WITH SAID ROLLER TRACK MEANS.